Middlesbrough: McClaren upbeat on Christie prospects

Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren is confident that injury-jinxed striker Malcolm Christie's latest setback will not wreck his career.

Christie has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in the same leg he broke in two places last November.

It is a hammer blow to the former Derby star, who only made his first-team comeback from his broken leg in last week's Uefa Cup tie against Banik Ostrava.

But McClaren does not believe that Christie's latest setback is career threatening, although it has been confirmed he will be sidelined until the New Year.

"It's a massive blow for Malcolm after all he's been through, but we've seem him come through it once and I'm sure we'll see him come through it again," said the Boro boss.

"Our thoughts are with him but, in the meantime, the rest of us will just have to get on with things."

Boro physio Grant Downie also insists that Christie will be back, saying: "It's anticipated that he'll make a full recovery.

"We're looking at it positively and we look forward to seeing him back in action after Christmas